Breast flap molding machine



June 11., 1940. M. cuozzo BREAST FLAP MOLDING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1959 s Shets-Sheet 1 w m% 1% M. w-

June 11, 1940. M. CUOZZO I snms'r FLAP MOLDING momma s Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1939 AME/V705 Junell, 1940. M. cuozzo BREAST FLAP MOLDING MACHINE Filed July 24. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES BREAST MOLDING MACHINE Michele Ouozzo, Lynn, Mass, assignor to United F.

.Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,219

18 Claims. (Cl. 12-17) r This invention relates to machines for molding heel-breast-covering flaps to facilitate the permanent attachment of the flaps tothe breasts of attached heels of shoes.

In, the manufacture of shoes having Louis heels, for example, it is customary tosplit from the grain side of an unattached sole a flap which, after the sole and heel have been attached to a shoe, is adhesively secured to thebreast of the 10 attached heel. Since the forwardly projecting upper end of the breast of the heel is bowed transversely of the heel and, is concave heightwise of the heel, the flap, which tends to lie. flat, has to have the lateral margins of its base por- 35 tion stretched lengthwise of the flapso as to conform said marginsto the upper lateral portions of the heel breast. Moreover, the portion of the flap to be applied to the upper end of the heel breast usually has to be stretched widthwise to a considerable extent in order that it shall be wide enough to cover the upper end of the breast.

The previously tempered flap, the inner face of which has been coated with cement or other suitable adhesive, is commonly stretched by hand at the localities above referred to just prior to the application of the flap to the breast of the heeL, Considerable time and effort are required to stretch the flap by hand. Moreover, the hand 30 operation cannot be safely relied upon to stretch a thick flap beyond the limit of elastic recovery 40 ing the lateral base margins of the flap lengthwise into conformity tothe contour of the upper breast margins of the heel are adapted to stretch the base portions of the flap widthwise to varying extents, or independently of the. above length- 45 wise stretching, in order to insure that the molded flap shall be Wide enough to cover the upper end of the breast of the particular style of heel to which it is to be applied.

It; is an object of the present invention to pro- 50 vide an improved machine for quickly and effectively molding heel-breast-covering flaps. With the above object in view, and in accordance with a feature of the present invention, the illustra tive flap-molding machine comprises molding 5 units constructed and arranged to stretch the lateral base portions of a heel-breast-covering flap lengthwise, and means for moving one of said units away from the other to stretch the base portion of the flap widthwise. I

The flap-molding units of the illustrative ma- 5 chine comprise matrices having alinedflat faces upon which the flap is positionedwith its lateral base margins overlying recesses, which are formed in the faces and are of increasing width and I depth as they extend away, from, each other. In order to stretch the lateral base margins of the flap-lengthwise and in increasing amounts toward the adjacent lateral edges of the flap so as to conform said margins to the lateral portions of the upper end of the heel breast, there are provided two rubber pads, which are secured to movable carriers, respectively, and force the lateral base portions of the positioned flap against the bottoms of the recesses,

To insure that the lateral base portions of the flap may be efiectively stretched lengthwise without distorting adjacent portions of the flap,

, and especially the portion of the flap which is to be secured to the flat upright portion of the breast of the heel, the illustrative machine, in 25 accordance with another feature of the invention,

is provided with two pairs of rubber-covered clamps which force the flap with considerable pressure against portions of the flat faces of the matrices, which portions are located at opposite sides of the respectiverecesses, before and while the. rubber pads are forcing the lateral base portions of the flap into the recessesfl Two of the, clamps are yieldingly mounted upon each of the carriers, the arrangement being such that as the carriers are moved downward toward their associated matrices the clamps force thefiap against the flat faces of the matrices, and upon continued downward movement of the carriers the pads force the lateral base portions of the flap into the recesses and against the bottom of said recesses. a

In order permanently to stretch the base portion of the flap widthwise sufiiciently to insure that it shall cover the upper end of the heel breast, each of the carriers, together with its associated matrix, is mounted for swinging movement, as a unit, awayfrom the other carrier and matrix while the lateral base portions of the flap are gripped between the matrices and the '50 clamps. The amount of widthwise stretching of the base portion of the flap is controlled by varying the extent of swinging movement of the corresponding carriers and matrices away from each other, stops being provided for limiting 5;,

20 shown in Fig. 7 is split from the fiat heel-seat the outward limit of such movement. By mounting the associated carriers and matrices for swinging movement as above described the flap can be stretched widthwise to varying extents independently of the lengthwise stretching of the lateral base portions of the flap, thereby insuring that the flap can always be stretched Widthwise sufliciently to cover the upper end of the breast of any 'particular style of heel.

The carriers and their associated matrices may be initially adjusted with relation to each other to vary the amount by which the lateral base portions of the sole will be stretched lengthwise by the machine, in accordance with the shape of the upper. end ofthe'breast of the heel to which the flap is to be applied.

The above and various other features of the invention will best be understood and appreciated by'reading the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which 1 Fig. 1, is a perspective view, partly broken ,away, of the illustrative machine:

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a. portion of the machine as viewed in the direction of arrow II shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is ,a section on line III III of Fig. Figs 4, 5 and 6 are views partly on line Ill-JV of Fig. 3 during three progressive stages of the flap-molding operation; I

. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the heel end of a sole from which a heel-breast-covering has been split;

Fig. a shows the see of Fig. '1 after its heel breast-coveringflap has been. molded by the above machine; and

.28 to which the soles are attached. The flap .20, v shown in Fig. 7, may bemolded to the shapes shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10by the machine either beforeor after'the attachment of the sole 22 to the shoe as.

Since the unrnolded heel-breastwovering flap portion of the sole 22 it tends to lie fiat, and resists to a considerable degree, even while in temper, attempts to conform it to the upper end or the forwardly projecting portion 3 3 (Fig. 9) of the breast 24 ofv the attached Louis heel 26 of "the shoe 28, which upper end is convex trans 'versely of the heel and concave heightwise of the heel.

When the operator adhesively secures the tempered flap to the lateral. margins of the upperend 30 of the breast of the heel without first stretching the lateral margins of the base from the upper lateral margins of the heel breast.

With the above considerations in view the illustrative machine comprises a pair of matrices '32, two pairs of clamps 34 for forcing the flap 20 against the-matrices, and conformable rubber pads 35 which cooperate with the respective matrices and clamps to stretch the lateral margins of the base portion of the 'fiap lengthwise of the sa beyond the limit of elastic recovery of the Y secured to the carriers by pins 46.

material of which the flap is made, thereby molding the flap to the proper shape to be efiectively applied to the upper lateral margins of the breast of the heel.

The respective matrices 32 are provided with recesses 36 which are of increasing width and depth as they extend away from each other and from the central vertical plane 38 of the machine. The pads 35 are provided with upwardly extending flanges M (Fig. 1) which fit invertical recesses 42, respectively, of carriers 64 and are As will appear later, the carriers M yieldingly support the clamps 3d and are lowered in rectilinear paths causing the clamps to force the flap against portions=of flat knurled faces 48 of the matrices,

-which portions are located at opposite sides of correspondingv recesses 36, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and'then causing the pads 35 to force the lateral base margins of the flap against dished serrated faces or bottoms 55 of the recesses 36 of the respective'matrices 32, as illustrated in Fig. 5, so as to stretch said margins of the flap lengthwise, the stretching force in creasing progressively from the central region of the flap outward. Crimps in (Figs. 8 and 9), formed in the lateral base portions of the flap as a result of the above moldingoperation, ex-

tend widthwise of the flap and increase in width and height as they approach the adjacent lateral edges of the flap, 3

At the heel-breast line 52 (Fig. 10) of the shoe Zilthe attached sole 22, the unmolded flap 21!,

and the front edge 54 of the forwardly projecting portion of the breast of the heel are of approximately the same projected width as seen.

looking toward the bottom of the shoe. It will be appreciated, however, that since the upper end 30 (Fig. 9) of the heel breast is usually slightly more convex widthwise than is the rear end of the shank portion of the sole, the flap, unless stretched widthwise in addition to being stretched lengthwise as above described, when laid over the upper end of the heel breast, does not always extend from one side of the upper end of the breast to the other. Accordingly the operator, in addition to stretching the lateral margins of the base portion of the flap lengthwise, usually stretches the base portion of the flap widthwise.

In order to stretch the base portion of the flap 20 widthwise beyond the limit of elastic recovery of the material the matrices 32, together with.

corresponding clamps 34 and pads 35, are swung equal and opposite distances away from each other and from the central vertical plane 38 while they grip the respective lateral margins of the base portion of the sole as above described.

It will be noted that after the base portion of thefiap 2!! has been adhesively secured to the shank portion of the sole there is a tendency for the flap to shrink widthwise with the result that the sides of the shank portion of'the sole sometimes project beyond the flap. In order to eliminate this undesirable condition the flap 2%! is stretched widthwise by the machine forwardly approximately to its line of attachment 53 (Figs. 8, 9 and 19) with the sole.

The faces 4810f the matrices 32 are in alinemerit and constitute a tableupon which the flap is positioned, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In order The rest 56 comto assist the operator in presenting the flap l Wprises plates 58 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are engaged by the heel seat of theshoe or by the heel-seat portion of the unattached sole, and.

such that the slide may be moved into different operative positions in directions I2 after loosening a set screw I4 which passes through an elongated opening (not shown) of the frame 70 and is threaded into the slide 80.. The set screw I4 is turned to bind the rest 56 to the machine frame!!! when the rest has been moved to its desired operative position.

The flat flap-engaging portions of the clamps 34 aremade of rubber orother similar material which will not damage the appearance of the grain or outer side of the flap. Shank portions .16 of the clamps 34 fit in the lower ends of bores of cylindrical housings I8 (Fig. 1) which are threaded into the respective carriers 44, rotation of the clamps in their respective bores being prevented by screws 80 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are threaded into the carriers and the inner ends of which fit in vertical slots 82 of the corresponding clamps. Located in the respective housings l8 aresprings 84 (Fig. 1) the lower ends of which engage the shank portions I8 of the clamps 34 and the upper ends of which are in engagement with disks 86. The disks 86 are backed up by screws 88 threaded into cap nuts 98 which in turn arethreaded onto the upper ends of the respective housings I8, the arrangement being such that the clamps 34 are normally held in their frame 18 and its lower end embracing a screw threaded onto the slide 98. Upward movement of the slide 98 is limited by a stop I06 secured to the main frame III. The slide 98 has forwardly projecting flanges which are engaged by the arms 94 and support the carriers 44 against upward displacement during the flap-molding operation. l Secured to the slide 98 is an arm I08 (Fig. 2) through a bore III) in the forward end of which passes a treadle-operated rod II2 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), the upper end of the rod being enveloped by a spring II4 (Figs. 1 and 2) retained between the arm I08 and a washer IIB backed up by a screw II8 threaded onto the upper end of the rod. When the treadle rodll2 is depressed the slide 98, together with the carriers 44 which are pivotally mounted upon the slide, is lowered, causing the. two pairs of clamps 34 to force the positioned flap against portions of the respective faces 48 of the matrices 32, which portions are located at opposite sides of the adjacent recesses 36 (Figs. 3

Upon continued downward movement :matrices (Figz fi) causing said portions of the flap to be stretched lengthwise, the dished sur-' .faces being so shaped that the stretching force applied to the =fiap increases progressively from the portions I I9 (Figs. 8 and 9) of theflap outwardly, the greatest stretch being applied at the lateral edges of the flap.

Secured by screws I20 to each of the matrices 32 is a horizontal arm I22 which is pivotally supported at its rear end upon a fulcrum pin I24 secured to the main frame ID. The axes I26 of the fulcrum pins 98, I24 are coincident. In order to insure against straining the fulcrum pins I24 during the flap-moding operation, the

main frame has secured to it a pair of plates I28 which are constantly engaged by bottom faces of the respective matrices 32.

As above stated, it is usually desirable to stretch the base portion of the flap widthwise to insure that it shall cover the upper end of the heel breast. Accordingly associated matrices 32 and carriers 44 are mounted for movement toward and away from the central heightwise plane 38 about the respective axes I28 of the fulcrum pins 98, I 24. In order to move the corresponding matrices 32 and carriers 44 as units toward and away from the plane 38, the arms I22 secured to the matrices have secured to them by screws I38 upstanding bars I32 which fit in vertical slots I34 formed in the respective carrier-supporting arms 94. With such an arrangement it will be clear that when the matrices 32 are swung toward and away from each other about the respective axes I26. through mechanism which will be described later, the corresponding carriers 44 and the respective clamps 34 and conforming pads 35 mounted upon the carriers, partake of such movement.

Associated matrices 32 and carriers 44 are normally urged as units toward each other by a spring'I36 (Figs. 1 and 2) the opposite ends of which are secured to the respective arms 94, movement of the units toward each other being limited by the engagement of the inner ends of screws I38, which are threaded into the arms 94, with the main frame 10. Check nuts I40 are provided for retaining the respective screws I38 in their adjusted positions in the arms 94. With such an arrangement it will be clear that the initial operativepositions of the matrices 32 and the carriers 44 can be varied in accordance with the portion of the flap it is desired .to stretch.

In order to swing corresponding matrices 32 and carriers 44 about the axes I26 from their inward positions shown in. Fig. to their outward positions shown in Fig. 6 after the lateral base margins of the flap 20 have been stretched lengthwise as above described, eachof the arms I22has rotatably secured to it a roll I42, which is constantly held in engagement with a cam I44 keyed to a shaft I46, by the spring I38. The

shaft I48 is rotatably mounted in the machine frame and has secured to its right end, as viewed from the front of the machine, an arm I48 (Figs. 2 and 3) which, during a predetermined stage of the downward movement of the rod H2 is forced downward by a nut I58 threaded onto therod to swing the arm I48 downward, thereby swinging the cams I44 in counterclockwise directions, as viewed in Fig, 2, and causing the arms I22 to which the matrices 32 are secured to move equal distances away from the. central vertical plane 38 about the respective axes I26 of the fulcrum pins 96, I24. Outward swinging movement of the respective matrices 32 andtheir asso- 'III.

In order to insure against the molded fiap entering between the matrices 32 as the same are swung from their outward positions shown in Fig. 6to their initial positions, the carriers 44 are raised suitable distances away from respective matrices 32 to enable the operator to remove the shoe being operated upon from the machine,

before the matrices and their associated carriers are swung inwardly toward each other. Accordingly, the shaft I46 has secured to its left end,

as viewed in Fig. 1, a ratchet arm I56 which,

mduring the outward swinging movement of the ratchet arm matrices 3'2 and'the carriers 46, is swung upwardly so that its teeth Iiil engage a pawl I68 which is pivoted upon a pin I66 secured to the machine frame and is normally urged forwardly "by a spring I62. Forward movement of the pawl I58 is limited by the rear "face of a cam Ifid which is secured by a screw to the slide 98. When the slide 68 is lowered, causing the clamps to force the flap 26 against the faces Mi of the matrices 32 and causing the pads 35 to force'the lateral base margins of the flap against the dished surfaces 56 of the matrices, the pawl I58 is permitted to swing under the action of the spring I62 to a forward position against a portion I68 of the rear face of the cam I64. Subsequently as the shaft I46 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, causing the matrices 32 and corresponding carriers 44 to be swung about the axes I26 away from the central heightwise plane 36 of the machine, the teeth I57 of the ratchet arm I56 engage the pawl. I58 which prevents the ratchet arm from moving downward and the matrices 32 and corresponding carriers Ml from being swung toward each other from their outward positions shown in Fig. 6 until a shoulder IIO of the cam I64 swings the pawl rearwardly out of engagement with the ratchet arm. After the ratchet arm I56 has been released it drops to its initial position shown in Fig. 1 under its own weight and the spring I 35 moves the matrices 32 and the associated carriers 44 back to their initial inward positions shown in Fig. 1.

The shoulder I16 of the cam IE4 is so arranged that upon upward movement of the rod Iii the clamps Maud the corresponding pads 35 are raised sufiiciently to release the flap before the I56 is released. Accordingly, the work may be removed from the machine by the operator before the matrices 32 and the corresponding carriers .44 start to swing back about the respective axes I26 to their initial positions.

It will be appreciated that if desirable the widthwise stretching of the flap may be emitted by raising the nut I56 to an inoperative position upon the rod H2. Under such conditions the matrices 32 remain stationary during the flapmolding operation and may be referred to as a matrix.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, molding units constructed and arranged to stretch the lateral base portions respectively of a heel-breasts covering flap lengthwise, and means for moving one of said units away from the other to stretch,

the flap widthwise.

2. In a machine for operating upon heelbreast-covering flaps, means for forming in the lateral margins of the base portion of a heelbreast-covering flap crimps which extend widthwise of the flap, each of said crimps increasing in width and height as it approaches an adjacent lateral edge of the flap, and means for stretching portions of the flap included between said crimps widthwise of the flap to increase the width of the base portion of the flap.

3. In a machine for operating upon heelbreast-covering flaps, molding units for forming in the lateral margins of the base portion of a flap crimps which extend widthwise of the flap and increase in width and height as they approach the adjacent lateral edges respectively of the flap, and means for moving one of said units with relation to the other to stretch the flap widthwise.

4. In a machine for operating upon heelbreast-covering flaps, a matrix for supporting a heel-breast-covering flap, clamping means for forcing lengthwise spaced portions of the lateral margins of the flap against the matrix, and conformable means constructed and arranged to cooperate with the matrix and the clamping means to stretch lengthwise of the flap portions of the lateral margins of the flap which are included between said lengthwise spaced portions or said lateral margins.

5. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a matrix for supporting a heel-breast-covering flap, two pairs of clamps, each pair of clamps being constructed andarranged to force lengthwise spaced portions of an adjacent lateral margin of the flap positioned upon the matrix against said matrix, and conformable means cooperating with the matrix and the clamps to stretch lengthwise of the flap portions of the lateral margins of the flap included between the clamps of each pair.

6. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a matrix for supporting a heel-breast -covering flap, said matrix having recesses which are shaped and arranged to be bridged by the lateral margins of the base portion ofthe flap positioned upon the matrix, clamping means for forcing the flap against portions of the matrix located at opposite sides of the respective recesses, and conformable means for forcing the lateral margins of the base portion of the flap gripped between the clamping means and the matrix into the recesses to stretch said margins of the flap lengthwise.

7. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a pair of matrices, apair of presser units constructed and arranged to force the respective lateral base,

portions of a heel-breast-covering flap against the'matrices to stretch said portions lengthwise of the flap, and means for moving one of the matrices and its associated presser unit with relation to the other matrix and unit to stretch I the flap widthwise. I

8. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a pair of matrices, a pair of presser units constructed and arranged to force the respective lateral base porwise, andmeans for varying the amount of movementof said one matrix and its associated presser unit in accordance with the amount it is desired having alined substantially fiat faces respectively whichiare initially positioned adjacent to each other and in each of which is formed a recess, pairs of clamps for forcing a heel-breast covering flap against the respective faces of the matrices conformable pads for forcing the lateral margins of the base portion of the fiap gripped by the faces of the matrices and the clamps into said recesses to stretch said margins of the flap lengthwise, and means for moving each of said matrices togetherwith its associated clamps and conformable pad as a unit with relation to the othermatrix to stretch said base portion of the flap widthwise.

10. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a pair of matrices having faces respectively which are constructedand arranged to support a heel-breastcovering flap and in each of which is formed a recess over which a lateral base portion of the flap may be positioned, each of said recesses being of increasing width and depth as it extends away from the other recess, clamps for forcing the flap against said face of each of the matrices, conformablepads for forcing the lateral margins of the base portion ofthe flap gripped by said faces of the matrices and said clamps againstthe bottoms of the respective recesses to stretch said lateral margins of the base portion of the flap effecting relative movement of the carriers and the matrices to cause the clamps to force a heelbreast-covering flap against the matrices and then to cause the pads to force the lateral margins of the base portion of the flap against the dished surfaces of the matrices.

12. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a matrix for supporting a heel-breast-covering flap, said matrix having recesses which are shaped and arranged to be bridged by the lateral margins of the base portion of the flap positioned upon the matrix, a carrier, clamps yieldingly mounted upon the carrier and constructed and arranged to force the flap against portions of the matrix located at the opposite sides of the respective recesses, conformable means secured to the carrier and constructed and arranged to force the lateral base portions of the flap gripped between the clamps and the matrix into the recesses to stretch said portions of the flap lengthwise, and means for effecting relative movement of the carrier and the matrix to cause the clamps to force the flap against the matrix and then to cause said con- ,formable means to cooperate with the matrix to stretch the flap.

13. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a pair of matrices having recesses respectively which are positioned adjacent to each other and each of which is of increasing width and depth as it ex-j tends away from the other, said matrices being constructed and arranged to support a heelbreast-covering flap with its lateral base portions bridging the respective recesses, a pair of carriers, pairs of clamps yieldingly mountedupon the 'respective carriers, conformable pads secured to the respective carriers, and means for effecting relative movement of the matrices and the carriers to cause the clamps to force the flap against: portions of the matrices located at opposite sides of the respective Crecesses and then to cause the lateral base portions of the flap gripped between the clamps and the associated matrices td be forced into the recesses to stretch the lateral base portions of the fiap lengthwise.

143. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, incombination, a pair of matrices, a pair of presser units constructed and arranged to force the lateral base portions of a heel-breast-covering flap against the matrices to stretch said portions lengthwise of the flap, and

means for initially adjusting one of the matrices and its associated presser unit with relation to the other matrix and presser unit in accordance with the portions of the flap it is desired to stretch.

15. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a pair of matrices having faces for supporting a heelbreast-covering flap and having dished surfaces which are bridged by the respective lateral base portions of the flap positioned upon said faces, pairs of clamps for forcing the flap against said faces of the matrices, a pair of conformable pads for forcing the lateral base portions of the flap against said dished surfaces of the matrices to stretch said portions of the flap lengthwise, and means for initially adjusting each of the matrices together with its associated clamps and pad toward and away from the other.

16. A machine for operating upon heel-breastcovering flaps having, in combination, a pair of molding units, means for causing the molding units to stretch the lateral base portions of a heel-breast-covering flap lengthwise and then to grip said portions, means for causing one of the molding units to move from an inward position adjacent to the other unit to an outward posimatrices and the presser units. to stretch length wise and to clamp the lateral base portions of a heel-breast-covering flap split from a sole, means for moving each of the matrices, together with its associated presser unit, from an inward position adjacent to the other to an outward position spaced a substantial distance from the other in order to stretch the base portion of the flap widthwise, and means for retaining the matrices and the presser units in said outward positions until sufiicient relative movement has been effected between the matrices and the presser units to enable the operator to remove the sole from the machine.

18. A machine for operating upon heel-breast tion spaced a short distance from the other unit, 1

covering flaps having, in combination, a pair of matrices constructed and arranged to. be engaged by a heel-breast-covering flap, a pair of presser units movable toward and away from the respective matrices and constructed and arranged to force the lateral base portions of the flap against the matrices thereby stretching said portions lengthwise, resilient means for normally urging .each matrix and its associated presser unit inwardly toward the other matrix and presser unit, means for limiting inward movement of the associated matrices and presser units, mechanism for moving each matrix and its associated presser unit away from the other matrix and presser unit against the action of 'said resilient means to their outward positions in order to stretch the base portion of the flap widthwise, and means for retaining the associated matrices and presser units in their outward positions until the presser units have been moved suificient distances away from the matrices to enable the operator to remove the flap ID from the machine.

MICHELE CUOZZO. 

